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I will be picking up my new MINI tonight! I got cloth seats, and after some reading here, I decided to get some 303 Fabric Guard. Is there anything special I need to do to apply this? I saw that it needs awhile to dry, so I figure I'll do it this weekend. Do I really need to completely wash and dry the seats before spraying?
Anyone who uses this, I'd really appreciate some tips! Thanks!
I will be picking up my new MINI tonight! I got cloth seats, and after some reading here, I decided to get some 303 Fabric Guard. Is there anything special I need to do to apply this? I saw that it needs awhile to dry, so I figure I'll do it this weekend. Do I really need to completely wash and dry the seats before spraying?
Anyone who uses this, I'd really appreciate some tips! Thanks!
It sounds like ScotchGuard. However, the requirement to wash and dry the seats seems like a bit much - especially if you have new seats to start with....
I haven't used the Fabric Guard, but I've used a few other 303 products, and for what it's worth, they are all really great. I still use the 303 Aerospace Protectant.
303 Fabric Guard is good stuff and now would be the time to apply it. Cleaning or vacuuming at this point shouldn't be necessary as your seats are pristine. First, I suggest you do this in a garaged area as you'll need to leave the car open overnight to vent the fumes and speed drying. Also, the lower the humidity the quicker this product will dry. Basically follow the instructions and try it, as suggested, on an inconspicuous area first. The main point of this exercise, is to ease the shock of seeing your lovely cloth seats become soaking wet with this foreign spray. I tested first on an area underneath the rear headrest. Check colorfastness by rubbing the wet fabric with a white cloth or paper towel and I'm sure you'll see no color removed. All this is mainly for your own peace of mind. Remove the headrests, take a deep breath and start spraying away one section at a time. Apply as evenly as you can or basically until the fabric appears to be uniformly soaked. Have a clean dry towel handy to wipe off overspray that hits other parts of the car's interior. Once you're done there's not much left to do but wait for your seats to dry. When they're dry, flick some water on the seats and it should just bead up. If it doesn't, you've applied it too thinly or missed a spot.
Good Luck and remember, try not to spill anything on your car seats!
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303 Fabric protectant is great stuff. I use it on my lawn furniture (leather seats in the MINI). Just spray it on and let it dry. Open windows in a locked garage is also a great idea to speed drying and to stop the fumes from building up on the interior glass.
You can generally find 303 fabric protectant at boating shops and at Smith and Hawken (high-end gardening stuff).
Since the car is new, it shouldn't require fabric cleaning. Maybe a quick vaccuum if it's convenient.
It could take a while to dry and I wouldn't risk breathing that stuff in if it hasn't dried completely. I think the instructions say to apply liberally so that the surface is completely covered and "wet". I drove round with the windows cracked for a week, or so, just to make sure. Don't worry if it looks like the fabric has changed color (darkened) when you apply it; it will revert to normal once dry.
I tested first on an area underneath the rear headrest. Check colorfastness by rubbing the wet fabric with a white cloth or paper towel and I'm sure you'll see no color removed. All this is mainly for your own peace of mind. Remove the headrests, take a deep breath and start spraying away one section at a time. Apply as evenly as you can or basically until the fabric appears to be uniformly soaked. Have a clean dry towel handy to wipe off overspray that hits other parts of the car's interior. Once you're done there's not much left to do but wait for your seats to dry. When they're dry, flick some water on the seats and it should just bead up. If it doesn't, you've applied it too thinly or missed a spot. 
